First bodies found within cabins of South Korean sunken ferry

Rescue conditions were expected to worsen from Saturday afternoon as strong winds were forecast to blow. The wind speed may rise to 8-12 m/sec Saturday afternoon from 6-9 m/sec in the morning at the site of the accident.

Of the 476 passengers on board, 29 have been confirmed dead and 174 rescued, leaving 273 people still missing. No survivor has been reported yet.

The toll rose to 29 as a female body in her 70s was spotted 150 metres from the submerged vessel when divers were conducting nighttime search operations.

Among the passengers were 325 high school students and 15 teachers on their way for a four-day field trip. The ship departed from South Korea's western port city of Incheon Tuesday night for the southern resort island of Jeju.

Among the rescued, 75 were students from the Danwon High School in Ansan, a Seoul suburb. Eleven students have been confirmed dead, with 239 others still missing.